Copyright: ® G.M.McKay


Contents
Bridge From Special K Software

This is the help file for Bridge From Special K Software.   Click on one of the topics below to learn more about each.   Alternately, you can use the above search button to find a topic.

•	   Computer requirements

•	   Distribution

•	   Run this game

•	   Let's start playing

•	   The game of Bridge From Special K

•	   The rules of Bridge

•	   Installing Bridge From Special K

•	   What version is this?

•	   Registration Incentives

•	   Print the Registration Form


 Author

Bridge

This game is a classic!    Please contact me if you need any help, or you have suggestions.

This program is © 1998-2000 G.M.McKay  All rights reserved.


Computer requirements (def.)
      Any 486, pentium or better IBM compatible computer will successfully run this game as long as it can run Windows 95 and has over 8 Mb of memory. It  will  use any sound driver that your Windows has fitted (ie. a sound card or PC speaker driver).   A mouse is required (as with all  Windows activities).  It works best if Windows has a standard screen resolution, such as 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x1024.   However, it can accommodate any resolution.   You should have at least 256 colours in your Screen Color Palette.


Distribution

       This copyrighted game is distributed under the SHAREWARE system which depends upon your support for on-going development.   You are encouraged to freely copy and distribute this product unaltered to  friends,  business associates, bulletin boards and user groups.   HOWEVER THIS  PRODUCT IS NOT FREE!   You have an evaluation period of two weeks.  If you decide you do not like the game, simply pass the disk along to someone else.   If you are still using Bridge From Special K after two weeks  of  evaluation, you are obligated to send a minimum payment of $28.   If the future of low-cost quality software is to continue, we all must support this concept.   If you  cheat on this payment may you be constantly finessed.

       When you register, you get lots of goodies, as well as that warm fuzzy feeling that only comes from the knowledge that you are more saintly than the scum around you.   Click here to find out all about the goodies.

If you registered a previous version that gave you life time registrations (like this one does), simply setup this Shareware program on top of the previous one (ie into the same directory).  It will become registered.   DO NOT delete the previous version.


Playing the game

These options are available on the Main Menu Screen.   Click on one to learn more about it.

•	   start game

•	   card options

•	   preferences

•	   help

•	   register

•	   quit


Running it (def.)
       See elsewhere in this file for full details on installing this program (if you are reading this, then chances are that you have already installed it correctly).

       Once the program has been installed, running it is as easy as selecting the icon installed in the START button Programs group.   If  this is too easy, you can also start it by double clicking on BRIDGE.EXE in the File Explorer (naturally you have to find the correct directory if you choose the hard way).


Score Table

If you have trouble remembering the scores associated with each bid, you can display the Score Table.   This shows you the scores for each bid.   You can also use it to bid with - click on the score you wish to bid.   A red rectangle shows you the score being highlighted - the background in the rectangle is black for illegal bids (ie score value lower than the current bid), and red for legal bids.

The score table displays the scores that relate to you, depending on whether you are vulnerable or not.   Remember that if the opposition have a different vulnerability they will not get the same scores.   These scores are different depending on whether you are playing Rubber Bridge or Chicago.   If you get more than the contracted bid, you also get rewarded with more points for these.

Another point to remember is that these are total scores.   If you are playing Rubber Bridge, some of the scores displayed may be placed above the line, rather than below it.   These scores are the scores you get when you make the bid - if you do not make the contract, there are different penalties suffered.   Similarly, the score is different if you are doubled or re-doubled.

Note the large increse in points scored for game bids, ie of 100 points or more below the line, when scoring with the Chicago system.   This is 3 in No Trumps, 4 in a major suit (Hearts or Spades), and 5 in the minor suits (Clubs or Diamonds).

Display the Score Table by pressing the Options Button or right mouse clicking on any part of the playing surface, and checking the Score Table menu option.   Uncheck the menu option to remove it.


The game

       You can make bids and play cards by clicking the left mouse button on the card or button.   When you are bidding, you can cancel a bid by clicking the right mouse button on the selection to delete.   You can also bid and play your own cards with the function keys.   Bid with F1-F12 keys and play the cards with F1-F12 and the + key.   You may find it convenient to use the ESC key when playing cards.   It says play the obvious card - this will only play a card:

- if you only have one card in the suit led, it plays it.

- if you only have the one suit and you are leading, it plays the highest of that suit.

- if you only have the one suit (not the led suit) and you are not leading, it plays the lowest of that suit.

       Yet another way of bidding is to use the keys indicated by the underscored letters in their labels, eg bid 2 hearts by pressing 2H, double by pressing U, and pass by pressing P.

You can also bid by left mouse clicking on the score table.   You can see the score table if you check the score table menu item after pressing the options button.   The options button shows you the following pop-up menu.

You can also see this menu by right mouse clicking anywhere on the card table.

       You can change the card options or your preferences at any time during a game by choosing the main menu item after the option button.   It also lets you review the Bids made in that hand, Replay the cards played in that hand, shows a concise summary of the cards played in the hand, or shows you the Score Card with the last 19 scores in your game to date.   These options are also available at the end of a hand, to let you review it.  When you review the cards played in that hand, you can control the speed at which the cards are displayed.   You also get to see everyone's cards.

       To stop playing the game and return to Windows, return to the Main Menu, and press quit.


Keyboard keys

       You can make bids and play cards by clicking the left mouse button on the card or button.   When you are bidding, you can cancel a bid by clicking the right mouse button on the selection to delete.   You can also bid and play your own cards with the function keys.

       You can also bid with the F1-F12 keys and play the cards with the F1-F12 and the + key.   You may find it convenient to use the ESC key when playing cards.   It says play the obvious card - this will only play a card:

- if you only have one card in the suit led, it plays it.

- if you only have the one suit and you are leading, it plays the highest of that suit.

- if you only have the one suit (not the led suit) and you are not leading, it plays the lowest of that suit.

       Yet another way of bidding is to use the keys indicated by the underscored letters in their labels, eg bid 2 hearts by pressing 2H, double by pressing U, and pass by pressing P.


Option Button

Pressing the option button exposes a number of menu options.   You can also see these options by clicking with the right mouse button on any part of the screen.

The items in the menu are:


Scoring

The scoring in Bridge depends on whether you are playing Rubber Bridge or by the Chicago scoring rules.

I will talk about Chicago first,as that is the simpler method.   In Chicago you get all the points (if you make the number of tricks that you said you would - ie. your bid + 6), and the person with the most points after four hands wins.  - SIMPLE -   The actual scores are best given by the Score Table help item.

In Rubber Bridge, the points you get are divided into trick points and premium points.   The total of trick points + premium points + 50 equals the same total points that you get for biddding with Chicago.   The premium points are recorded above the top line, regardless of how many lines are drawn on the score card.   Trick points count towards bidding for game.   You have to win two games to win the rubber, and each game is made up of 100 or more trick points (which may be won in one hand or several).   If you win the rubber you get additional premium points depending on whether you won the rubber 2 games to 0, or 2 games to 1.   After each game you draw a line on the score card to show the end of that game.

If you do not make the contract you bid for, the opposition get a number of points.

The points for Rubber Bridge are in the table below.   They depend on whether you are vulnerable or not.

                          	        Trick Points

 Suit Bids         	   C   D   H   S        No Trumps

                     	                    Trick 1  Next Tricks

Each Trick bid & made	   20  20  30  30      40         30

  if doubled         	   40  40  60  60      80         60

  if redoubled       	   80  80 120 120     160        120

                          	        Premium Points

 Under Tricks           	  Not Vulnerable  Vulnerable

each undertrick           	         50            100

if doubled 1st trick      	        100            200

if doubled next tricks    	        200            300

if re-doubled 1st trick   	        200            400

if re-doubled next tricks 	        400            600

 Over Tricks            	  Not Vulnerable  Vulnerable

each overtrick            	     trick value    trick value

if doubled                	        100            200

if re-doubled             	        200            400

fulfilling doub. contract 	         50             50

small slam bid & made     	        500            750

grand slam bid & made     	       1000           1500

rubber 2:0 win               	           700

rubber 2:1 win               	           500


Main Menu (def.)
Return to the main menu to change an option for bidding, playing, changing your setup preferences, or to exit.


Review Bids (def.)
Review the bids made this hand.   It shows all the bids all the players made.


Review Cards Played (def.)
Review the tricks played during this hand.   You can select the speed of showing the cards, or stop the review, or show previous tricks.   The card of the player who leads for each trick is displayed first.   This might be considered cheating.


Review Last Trick (def.)
Review the last trick played.   Those people who might consider it cheating to review all the tricks played this hand, will accept the common practice of reviewing the last trick played.


Review Card Summary (def.)
Review the concise Card Summary.   This shows the cards played in the hand so far.   The player who led in each trick is shown by the blue spot.


Review Score card (def.)
Review the Score Card.   This shows the scores in the last 15 hands played.   This will help you to see who won and lost.


Bid Explanation (def.)
The Bid Explanation menu item displays a window showing the logic that the computer players used to make their bids.   This can be helpful in understanding their logic, or when you are learning to play this great game.

This help file has a basic summary of bidding logic for both ACOL and Standard American.


Bid Logic Explanation (def.)
The Bid Explanation menu item displays an explanation of the bids made by the computer players.   This can be helpful for those learning Bridge to understand the logic.   This table appears whenever you need to bid, and disappears when you do not.   If you do not want this table displayed, uncheck the menu item.

This help file has a basic summary of bidding logic for both ACOL and Standard American.


Score Table (def.)
The Score Table menu item displays the scores awarded for each bid.   This score table appears whenever you need to bid, and disappears when you do not.   You can use this as a guide to the score you need, or you can bid by clicking on the score.   Scores which have already been out bid, are shown as a black filling of the red rectangle, rather than a red filling.   If you do not want this table displayed, uncheck the menu item.

The score table displays the scores that relate to you, depending on whether you are vulnerable or not.   Remember that if the opposition have a different vulnerability they will not get the same scores.   These scores are different depending on whether you are playing Rubber Bridge or Chicago.   If you get more than the contracted bid, you also get rewarded with more points for these.

Another point to remember is that these are total scores.   If you are playing Rubber Bridge, some of the scores displayed may be placed above the line, rather than below it.   These scores are the scores you get when you may the bid - if you do not make the contract, there are different penalties suffered.   Similarly, the score is different if you are doubled or re-doubled.


Save Game (def.)
You can save your current game by clicking on the Save Game Item in the Option Menu.   This saves the current cards, and the scores saved on the score card.   It does not save the total wins recorded for each team.   You can select this item from the start of the dealing, right up to the last card being played.   You can use this feature to replay the hand you have just played with different bids, or even different game rules!   Load this same hand with the Load Game menu item.


Load Game (def.)
You can load the saved game by clicking on the Load Game Item in the Option Menu.   This will start the saved game from the start of the bidding.   The first bidder is saved with the saved game.


help (def.)
You can see this comprehensive help file if you choose the help option from the Main Menu, or by choosing it from the popup menu by right clicking the card table.


rules
The rules

Each hand is divided into two parts, the Auction, which is a negotiation for Contract, and the Play, which is fulfilment of Contract.

As the Auction part decides which player is to be Declarer and play the hand, it must take place before the Play begins.

The Bridge player does not bid for points, but he offers to win a certain number of Tricks.  The Contract goes to the side making the highest bid.  If this side wins at least the number of tricks it promised, it wins points.  But if the side is unable to make good its promise the other side wins points.

Tricks

There are four cards in a Trick, each player contributing one.  Each player starts with thirteen cards, so there are thirteen Tricks in every hand or deal.   The score you get from the hand depends on the number of tricks won and the bid made.

The Book

The first six Tricks that the declarer wins constitute the Book, and they do not count towards his score.  When a player bids One in any suit, he is in reality contracting to win the One Trick over the Book, or seven Tricks in all.  Similarly, if he bids Seven he is contracting to win all thirteen Tricks.

Trumps and No Trumps

When a player makes a bid he must either name one of the four suits as trumps or specify another denomination known as No Trumps.

The word 'trump' is connected with the word 'triumph' and the trump suit can triumph over the other suits, so that the lowly Two of the trump suit can beat the Ace of another suit.   If a player specifies No Trumps it means that he does not want to have any suit as trumps. No Trumps is valued higher than all the other suits.

The Bid or Call

A bid is a tender for a specified number of  Tricks.   A call is any bid, No Bid, Double or Re-double.   Each player in turn, starting with the dealer, has the chance to make a bid, or declare No Bid (or Pass).   If all four players say No Bid, the deal is at once abandoned, and the next player in rotation deals.

The dealer may Pass, or name any number from One to Seven in No Trumps or in a suit.   The next player, and each player in turn thereafter, may bid similarly, provided that his bid names either a greater number of Tricks than the last bid or an equal number in a denomination of higher rank suit.

Bidding conventions help the team to arrive at the highest bid that they can make, and so win maximum points.   The Standard American and ACOL conventions, are the most popular, and are based on assessing the strength of your hand by High Card Points (HCP) and Total Points (TP).

This help file has a basic summary of bidding logic for both ACOL and Standard American.

Double and Re-double

There are two other calls which can occur during the Auction.  Any player may, in his turn, double the last bid if it was made by an opponent.  As a Double increases the premiums and penalties for the Declarer, according to the success or failure of his contract, it does, in effect, challenge the Declarer's ability to meet his bid.

Any player may, in his turn, re-double the last bid if it was made by his own side and has been doubled by an opponent.

Termination of the Auction

The Auction terminates when any bid, Double or Re-double is followed by three consecutive calls of No Bid.

The Contract

The Contract (or Final Contract) is the highest bid of the Auction, and the side making the final bid becomes the Declaring Side.

The Declarer is that member of the Declaring Side who first called the final winning suit, even though he may not have made the final bid.   After this, the game can begin.

The Defending Side

The opponents of the Declarer are known as the Defending Side or the Defenders.

First Trick Lead

The Declarer's left-hand opponent makes the first lead.  He may lead any card that he chooses.   There is a way that the defending team can give each other information on their hands.   This is a signalling convention.

Dummy

As soon as the opening lead has been made the Declarer's partner lays his cards face upwards on the table in front of him.  He is known as Dummy, and takes no active part in the Play.  The Declarer plays both his own hand and the Dummy.

Playing Tricks

After a card has been led, each of the other three players, in strict clockwise order, must play a card to complete the Trick.  He must 'follow suit' if able to do so; that is, he must play a card of the same suit as the Lead card.  If he has no card of the suit led he is free to play any card that he may hold.

Winning Tricks

Each Trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, unless there is a trump suit played, when it is won by the highest trump card.

Leading Cards

After Tricks are won, the lead is made by the winner of the previous trick.   Click  here to see signalling leads that the defenders can make.

End of the Game

Play continues until all thirteen Tricks have been completed.   Then the score is added up.


Installing It

       BRIDGE is distributed in a form which makes installation easy for you.    Like all Windows programs, its installation is more complex than DOS programs, but the SETUP.EXE utility takes care of all this for you.    This way, it can ensure that you have the correct Windows System files that it needs to run properly, without you having to do any work.

       After installation, you should have these files in the \Program Files\Bridge directory -

 	BRIDGE.EXE -  base program

BRIDGE.HLP -  Windows help file

BRIDGE.TXT -  ASCII text help file

 	REGO.FRM   -  user registration form

SCORES.BRG -  game scores and set-up info

GAME.BRG - saved game

*.CRD      -  data files.

       In addition, it will make sure that you have Windows system files in your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

       If you received this software from a Bulletin Board or the Internet, it will be compressed into the one file, eg BRIDGE23.ZIP.   Before running the installation program you will need to decompress it.   Create a temporary directory, eg C:\MYTEMP, and decompress all the files into it.   The software is now ready to install, as if you had bought it on a floppy disk.

       Now start Windows, and run the SETUP.EXE program.   The easiest way of doing this is choose RUN from Windows START button, and type in the drive, directory, and SETUP.EXE name.   Alternatively, you can run it from the File Explorer.

       The installation program prompts you to enter the directory name in which to store the files.   The installation program does NOT interfere with any of your standard set-up eg, AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, *.INI,  path.   It places the icon to start the BRIDGE game in a group called "Bridge From special K" that it creates in the Programs group on the START button.   If you want, you can easily move this icon to a different group (by the usual method of dragging and dropping).

       If  you created a temporary directory, eg C:\MYTEMP,  you can  now remove it.

       The total space that this program takes up on disk is about 3.8 Mbytes.

       If you run BRIDGE and find that it does not fill the whole screen, the answer is probably the screen resolution that you have chosen for Windows.   You can change this via the Display icon in the Control Panel.   It works best with standard resolutions, such as 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x1024.   However it supports most other resolutions.  If it does not fill the whole screen, you can force it to use another - click here to find out more.

Windows 95 also lets you uninstall this program (not that you would ever want to!).


Signalling leads

Defenders can send each other signals on what cards they hold, by which cards they play.   This only applies to the first time the suit is lead.   Also, you may see that the dummy holds a particular card combination which makes it unwise to indicate your cards.   A common playing convention is:

With a weak doubleton - lead the higher card

With a suit including a winner - lead the winner

With a weak tripleton - lead the highest

With a tripleton and the two highest cards are neighbours - lead the highest card

With a tripleton and a court card - lead the lowest

With four or more of a suit and three court cards - lead the highest

Otherwise with four or more of a suit - lead the fourth highest card


uninstall

If for some strange reason you wanted to remove this program from your computer, you can do this with these steps - Start Menu button, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.   It is often a good idea to remove the existing program if a disk corruption has occurred, and you need to re-install the program.   Removing all existing files makes sure that the setup program does not bypass an existing file that is actually corrupted.   An alternative is to re-install it to a different directory.

Remember, if you want to install a new shareware version over a previous Registered For Life version, so that the new copy becomes registered, you must not uninstall the original copy.


This Version (def.)
VERSION 2.7

      This version 2.7 of  BRIDGE FROM SPECIAL K.

This program plays the enduringly popular card game of Bridge. Use Windows 95 to achieve the realistic atmosphere of a Bridge game.

You can choose from different bidding conventions and styles of play. It has animation, and supports various screen resolutions and sound cards.    A rather unfortunate bug which caused the dummy to sometimes renegue when trumps were led has been fixed and pre-emptive bids enhanced.   Sound, logic and graphics have been improved.

It comes complete with this help file and on-screen explanation of the bidding logic.  So, it is ideal for expert and beginner alike.


Registering your Shareware

 REGISTRATION :

       If you are still enjoying this game after two weeks you should support the  Shareware concept and register your copy by sending a minimum donation of $28, plus for $2 handling I will send you, via email, a registered copy of the latest version of BRIDGE From Special K.   Make this $6 handling instead of $2 if you want to receive your programs slower via postal mail, rather than email.   For an extra $3 each you can have registered copies of three other card games - 500,  Rummy and Euchre.

Choose from the following:

- the latest, updated registered version or Bridge (with even better card playing skills).

- if you want it, for a small extra cost I will include a copy of  Euchre Card Game From Special K,  Rummy Card Game From Special K or  500 Card Game For Windows 95.   The card game of 500 is not as widely played as Bridge, but it deserves to be, being very popular in Australia, USA, Canada, and New Zealand.   The Rummy Card Game includes eleven games in the Rummy family, including Gin Rummy, 500 Rummy, and Pinochle Rummy.

       An additional incentive is that you can register this version and have registered versions for life!   With this registered version you receive a key.   Download any future shareware version from the Internet, or any other source, and you can turn it into a registered version!

       Yet another incentive to register is that the registered copy does not make you endure the initial "nuisance" screen when you run it.

   SPECIAL BONUS -  The registered copy also has a much more pleasing picture as the background to the Main Menu (ie. you do not have to see me and my family).  It also allows you to put in YOUR OWN background to this menu, so if you have a pleasing Bit Map Picture, or even a scanned-in picture of yourself, this can be in the background every time you run it.

       You can register by posting the registration form and a check to me, and choose to receive your registered version by mail, or receive it quicker by email (and pay $4.00 less).

       You can also register on line by credit card by visiting my homepage at  http://www.dezzanet.net.au/~gmckay or  http://www.geocities.com/heartland/forest/6379 or  http://members.xoom.com/500cardgame .

       Dealer enquires are welcome.  Corporate licenses are available.

see registration form


Start the game (def.)
    Obviously, you press the top button on the menu to start the game.   You can access this Main Menu at any time during a game, and return to the same game.


Nuisance Screen (def.)
The initial screen in the unregistered version is a nuisance (or nag) screen which is designed to encourage people to fulfil their obligations to pay for the program that they are using.   This screen does not appear in the registered version.   The screen has a time delay to allow people to read it.   The length of this time delay increases with the number of times the program has been run.   Obviously people who keep using the unregistered copy for months are very slow at reading the information and need all the help they can get!


Playing Rules button

i)  You can choose whether to award bonus points for the number of honour cards you hold in your hand.

ii) You can choose to use the Standard American or ACOL bidding conventions to play.    These two conventions are not all that different - remember they are both aimed at arriving at the same best bid.

iii) Two scoring systems are available.   You can choose Chicago where 4 hands are played, and the winner is the player ahead after the four hands.   Vulnerability is determined by how many hands have been played (Noth-South are vulnerable on hands 2 & 4, East-West on hands 3 & 4).   Or you can choose Rubber Bridge where two games must be won (each having game points of at least 100).    These game points are the points you bid, as distinct from what you actually achieve.   Extra points for winning more than you bid are placed above the top line, and do not contribute to winning the rubber.   In Rubber Bridge you are vulnerable if you won the first game and you are looking to win the second game.

iv) You can alter the enthusiasm and optimism that your partner bids with.

v)  Rather than sitting there (like a dummy) when you are the dummy, you can choose to play your partner's hand for him (or her).   Your hand (ie the dummy's hand at the bottom of the screen) is still the only hand visible to the opposition.

vi) You can choose how you want to order the cards you hold in your hand.   Different people are more comfortable with different orders.

vii) There are two bidding conventions used to find out more about the cards in your partner's hand.   These centre around bidding 4 no trumps.   The conventions are called Blackwood and Culbertson.   You can choose to play one or none of these.

vii) You can choose whether to use the Stayman convenction or not.   This gives a special meaning to the responder bidding 2 Clubs after the opener bid of 1 No Trump.   If you choose not, then 2 Clubs has no special significance over any other 2 call.


Blackwood 4NT convention

Blackwood is the most popular convention called to get information about your partner's hand.  Although overused, it can be powerful in getting vital information before bidding a slam (or avoiding bidding a doomed slam).   A bid of 4 No Trumps, when No Trumps has not been bid previously, is a plea for your partner to tell you about his Aces.   The partner's response is:

5 Clubs with 0 or 4 Aces

5 Diamonds with 1 Ace

5 Hearts with 2 Aces

5 Spades with 3 Aces

If the 4 No Trumps bidder, then bids 5 No Trumps, he is asking for Kings, using the same code as above (except bid 6 No Trumps for 4 Kings).

The other 4 No Trumps convention is the Culbertson convention.


Culbertson 4NT convention

Culbertson is a less popular convention called to get information about your partner's hand.   It can be powerful in getting vital information before bidding a slam (or avoiding bidding a doomed slam), but is not as popular as the simpler Blackwood convention.   A bid of 4 No Trumps, when No Trumps has not been bid previously, is a plea for your partner to tell you about his Aces.   Make the Culbertson bid when you have:

3 Aces

or

2 Aces and a King in any suit bid by your team

The response is:

5 No Trumps with 2 Aces or 1 Ace and Kings in all suits bid by your team

5 of that suit if you have an Ace in an unbid suit

6 of the best bid suit if you have an Ace in a bid suit

5 of the lowest bid suit if you have no Aces


Stayman 2 Clubs convention

The Stayman calling convention is a bid of 2 Clubs from the responder after a call of 1 No Trumps by the opener.   It is a request to find the best fitting suit.   If the opener has one four card major suit (Spades or Hearts), he bids that suit.   If he has 4 cards in both major suits, he bids the Spades.   With no 4 card majors, he bids 2 Diamonds.

The convention is named after Sam Stayman, an American player during the 1950's.


SLAM bid (def.)
A slam is when 6 tricks are bid.   A Grand slam is when all 7 tricks are bid.


Preference Options

i) If you have installed a sound driver in your Windows, you can choose the level of sound you want.   The Full Sound option makes congratulatory noises at every opportunity and calls the bids made, while Part Sound is somewhat more discrete.  Bridge From Special K supports all sound cards that your Windows is set up for.

ii) You can also set the volume of the sound.   Note that there are many sound volume controls, which all have an influence.   This is the control which you can see by double clicking on the icon in the system tray.   You can only set this volume if you have chosen the Full Sound, or Part Sound options.

iii) When you adjust the colour of the card table, the colour of the background changes instantaneously.   This helps you to choose the colour that you really want.   Remember that if you decide on a dark colour, any black writing will be difficult to read.

       Remember also that Windows can be customised to view different numbers of colours (through the Display icon in the Control Panel).   Many people choose not to show millions of individual colours, but stick to  256.   You should run at least 256 colours for this game, but the more the merrier.   When an application, like Bridge, tries to show a colour which is not identical to an exact colour than your Windows is set up to show, then Windows will dither it.   This means that over the background, it will show a series of dots and crosses to approximate the colour that you chose.   You will quickly find that Windows dithering does not help readability.   If you do not find a card table colour you like, you can always set up Windows to show more colours (and less dithering).

       If you do not like the colour you have chosen - change it to another.

iv) You can give names to the buddies that you are playing with, or simply leave them as Player 1, 2 & 3, or West, North & East.

v)  You can display tool tips or not.   These show the name of cards and options.

vi) You can choose to show the score card at the end of every hand or not.   This is often useful, but does slow down the display slightly.

vii) You can slow down or quicken the game by adjusting the length of time for which the cards are displayed during a hand.   This also affects the time bids are displayed.

viii) Similarly, you can adjust the speed at which the cards move.   So if you have a slow computer, or are simply in a hurry to get the cards played, you can set this to a fast speed.

ix) The number of wins each team have made are recorded.  Press the reset button to set this count back to zero.


Tool Tips (def.)
Tool Tips help you by giving more information about the object that the mouse is pointing to.   They can be turned on or off by the Preferences option on the Main Menu.


Help Option (def.)
       Help instructions can be read from the text file BRIDGE.TXT, or from the help menu button.   Use the hypertext to move to different topics.   You may also want to search for your topic with the Search button.


Back Ground Picture (def.)
The registered version allows you to install your own picture.   This will be displayed as the background to the main menu.   It is automatically centred.   To use your own picture simply store it in Bit Map format in the directory all the BRIDGE files are stored in.   Give it the name BACKGRND.BMP.


Register Option (def.)
       If you have read this far, you know that this enjoyable program is NOT free, but is being distributed as SHAREWARE.   This means that if you continue to use it past a short evaluation period, you must register it.   This option helps you to print out the registration form.   If there is a problem printing through Windows, the form is stored in a file called REGO.FRM in your \Program Files\Bridge directory.   You can print this out manually.

 	You can also use this help file to print it - click here.


Quit Option (def.)
       Press the quit button to see what happens.


Registration Form

   Click here to print out this form.

You can also print the file REGO.FRM manually.

To see details of the incentives to register, click here.

____________________________________________________________

                     BRIDGE FROM SPECIAL K

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Windows ver:  ______________          Floppy:  __1.44MB__

registered latest version of BRIDGE.....$---- ($28)

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options:

registered 500 CARD GAME FOR WINDOWS 95.$---- ($3 if required)

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Send registered version by email or post:  ________

I will be grateful for any suggestions, comments, or information on problems with the game you may have.

____________________________________________________________

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        If you want to register on the Internet and pay by credit card,

you can at http://www.getsoftware.com, or visit my home page at

http://www.dezzanet.net.au/~gmckay or http://www.geocities.com/heartland/forest/6379 or http://members.xoom.com/500cardgame


Screen Resolution (def.)
The screen resolution is a measure of how wide and high the screen is.   This resolution is measured in pixels.   It is set in the Display Icon in the Control Panel in Windows 95.   Bridge works best with the standard 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 resolutions, but will scale itself to fit with other resolutions.

Very occasionally, a particular combination of computer and video card does not work well with Bridge at different screen resolutions.   This shows up as the game not fitting on the screen properly.   It may takeup only part of the screen, or only part of the game may be displayed on the screen.   You can fix this by forcing the software to display a particular resolution by including on the command line /RESOLUTION500x400.   Adjust the numbers to make the game suit your screen.   The command line is set by the properties of the Bridge shortcut.


Shareware (def.)
Shareware (also known as user supported software and other names) is a concept not understood by everyone.  The authors of Shareware retain all rights to the software under the copyright laws while still allowing free distribution.  This gives the user the chance to freely obtain and try out software to see if it fits his needs.  Shareware should not be confused with Public Domain software.

 If you continue to use Shareware after trying it out, you are expected to register your use with the author and pay a registration fee.   Only by paying for the Shareware you use do you enable the Shareware author to continue to support his software and create new programs.  Considering that the Shareware registration fees are almost always far less than the purchase price of comparable commercial software it's obvious that Shareware is a good deal for everyone.

  There are real advantages to you in the Shareware system.  You get to try out software to make sure it is compatible with your hardware and that it is  a good deal before you "buy" it with your registration. The author saves the expense of advertising, packaging and distribution and passes the savings on to you.  Plus, most Shareware authors are much more accessible than commercial software sources so that your questions and suggestions are likely to be responded to.


Vulnerability (def.)
Vulnerability affects the points you receive if you win your bid, or the opposition receive if you lose.

If you are scoring by the Chicago system, vulnerablility is determined by how many hands have been played (Noth-South are vulnerable on hands 2 & 4, East-West on hands 3 & 4).

In Rubber Bridge two games must be won (each having game points of at least 100).  In Rubber Bridge you are vulnerable if you won your first game and you are looking to win the second game.


HCP (def.)
HCP or High Card Points is the measure of how many high cards you have.   It is used as a measure of the strength of your hand in all bidding conventions.   It is calculated by assigning 4 points to every Ace, 3 to every King, 2 to every Queen, and 1 to every Jack.   The whole card deck has 40 points, so your fair share is 10 points for each player.    HCP is used when considering opening bidding.   After that, as well as high cards, whether you are short in a suit is of value, so this is factored in and called Total Points.   In No Trumps a 10 may be valued as half a point.


TP (def.)
TP or Total Points is a measure of how strong your hand is.   It is made up of  High Card Points plus distribution points.   The distribution points reflect the fact that having voids, or only a few cards, in a suit means you can trump that suit, and that you are more likely to promote low cards to winners in long suits.   The distribution points are worth 1 for 2 cards in a suit, 2 for 1 card in a suit, and 3 for a void.


Bidding Summary

This is a summary of the two most commonly used natural bidding systems,  ACOL and Standard American.  Abbreviations used are HCP for High Card Points, TP for Total Points.   HCP are used in No Trumps bids, otherwise the points refer to Total Points.

STANDARD AMERICAN

Opening Bids

1 No Trumps

Bid 1NT with 16-18 HCP and a balanced hand (ie. 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2).

1C,1D,1H,1S

Bid with 13-21 TP - bid long suits first - with 5-5 bid higher suit, with 4-4 bid lower suit.

2 No Trumps

Bid 2NT with 22-24 HCP and a balanced hand.

2C

Natural game forcing bid with a 5+ cards in clubs.

2D,2H,2S

This is game forcing with 23+ TP or 9+ tricks - minimum of 5 card suit.

3C,3D,3H,3S

Make pre-emptive bids with 6-10 TP and a 7 card suit and no 4 card major suits.   You should be within 2 tricks of your bid if Vulnerable, otherwise within 3 tricks.

3 No Trumps

25-26 HCP with a balanced hand.

4C,4D,4H,4S

Stronger pre-emptive bids 10+ TP and 7-8 card suits.

Variants

5 Card Majors

1H or 1S require 5 cards, so with 4 card majors bid 1C or 1D first.

Weak Two Bids

2D, 2H, 2S show 8-12 TP and a 6 card suit.   2C is now artificial, game forcing.

Responses

Respond a Suit to 1 No Trumps

2C (Stayman bid) seeks 4 card majors.   2D, 2H, 2S show a weak hand with 5+ card suit.   3C, 3D, 3H, 3S are forcing to game, showing a 5+ card suit.   Game bids of 4H, 4S, 5C, 5D or slam bids (6 level) indicate you want to play this level.

Raise in No Trumps after 1NT

Must have a balanced hand.   Bid 2NT with 8-9 HCP - invites a game if opener has maximum points.   Bid 3NT with 10-14 HCP, 4NT with 15-17 HCP, 6NT with 16-18 HCP.

Response to 1C,1D,1H,1S

Pass with 0-5 TP.   With 6-10 bid single raise, bid a new suit, or bid 1 No Trump.

Raise in a Suit to a 1 Bid

Shows 4 cards in nominated suit.   Single raise with 6-9 TP.   Double raise with 13-15 TP and is forcing to game.   Triple raise with 8-12 HCP and a good distribution.

Bid New Suit After a 1 Bid

A 1 bid in a new suit shows 6-18 TP, a 2 bid shows 10+ TP.   2H over 1S shows a 5 card suit, all other bids may be only 4 cards.   All bids in a new suit are forcing unless you passed previously.

Jump bid in a New Suit After a 1 Bid

19+ TP, and is forcing to game.

No Trump Bids After a 1 Bid

Bid 1NT with 6-10 HCP when no other bid is available - note this may be an unbalanced hand.   Bid 2NT with 13-15 HCP and a balanced hand, 3NT with 16-18 HCP and a balanced hand.

Response to 2 No Trumps

3C is looking for a major suit.   3D, 3H, 3S are forcing to game with 5+ cards in the suit.  Game and Slam bids are suggesting that this is the correct level to play at.   4NT is inviting a slam.

Response to 2 Bid if You are Strong

2NT is a weak bid with 0-7 HCP.   Other bids show 8+ points.   You must have 5+ card suit to bid a new suit.

Response to 2 Bid if You are Weak

Any new suit is forcing.   Raises may indicate a strong hand, but also might be pre-emptive.

Response to 3 Bids

Responder determines best contract considering 2 hands' fit and strength.   3NT suggests playing at this level.   Bidding a new suit is forcing, with a strong 5+ card suit.   Raises to game may be strong (showing 4-5 tricks) or pre-emptive.

Overcalls

at 1 Level

1D, 1H, 1S overcalls show 8-16 TP, and a reasonable 5+ card suit.   1NT shows 16-18 HCP and a balanced hand.   Bidding in 4th position, you can bid with only 10-12 points.

at 2 level

Overcall 1 with 11+ TP and a good 5+ card suit.   Jump overcall with 16-20 TP and 5+ card suit

at 3 level

Jump overcall with 16-20 TP and 5+ card suit.   A double jump is often played as a 8-12 TP pre-emptive bid with a 7+ card suit.

Opener's Rebid

in No Trumps

1NT is 13-15 HCP and a balanced hand.   2NT is 14-15 HCP (or 19-21 HCP if a jump rebid, eg. 1H-1S-2NT).

in Own Suit

A simple rebid shows 13-15 TP and a 5 card suit.   A jump rebid shows 16+ TP and a 6+ card suit.

Raises

Make a simple raise with 13-15 TP and a 4+ card support (occasionally 3 card suit).   Make a double raise with 16-18 TP and a 4+ card suit - this invites a game bid.   Make a raise to a game bid with 19-21 TP and a strong 4 card suit.

in a New Suit

Opener bids a new suit at the lowest level with 13+points and a 2nd suit of 4+ cards.   A jump bid in a new suit shows 17+ TP and is forcing to game.   A reverse (ie rebidding a lower suit) forcing partner to bid at the 3 level shows 17+ TP and a 5 card suit in the first bid suit.

Conventions

Stayman

The Stayman convention is responder bidding 2C over opener's 1NT asks for a 4 card major suit.   Opener replies 2D with no major suit, or 2H or 2S with 4+ cards in that suit.   With 2 4 card majors, bid 2H.

Blackwood

The  Blackwood convention is a bid of 4NT asking for Aces.   Bid 5C with 0 or 4, 5D with 1, 5H with 2, 5S with 3 Aces.   A 5NT after 4NT asks for kings signalled the same way.

Take Out Double

This shows a hand you want to compete on.   Double the previous bid if you have 13+ TP with support on the 3 unbid suits, or 16+ TP and a strong 1 or 2 suited hand, or 19+ TP in a strong balanced hand.

ACOL

Opening Bids

1 No Trumps

Bid 1NT with a balanced hand and 16-18 HCP if vulnerable and 12-14 if not.

1C,1D,1H,1S

Bid with 13-20 TP - bid long suits first - with 5-5 bid higher suit, with 4-4 bid lower suit.

2 No Trumps

Bid 2NT with 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand.

2C

Artificial game forcing bid with a 9+ suit or 23+ TP.

2D,2H,2S

This is forcing with 15+ TP and 8+ tricks - minimum of 5 card suit.

3C,3D,3H,3S

Make pre-emptive bids with 6-10 TP and a 7 card suit and no 4 card major suits.   You should be within 2 tricks of your bid if Vulnerable, otherwise within 3 tricks.

3 No Trumps

Excellent 7 card minor suit and 1+ other high cards.

4C,4D,4H,4S

Stronger pre-emptive bids 10+ TP and 7-8 card suits.

Variants

5 Card Majors

1H or 1S require 5 cards, so with 4 card majors bid 1C or 1D first.

Weak Two Bids

2D, 2H, 2S show 8-12 TP and a 6 card suit.   2C is now artificial, game forcing.

Responses

Respond a Suit to 1 No Trumps

2C (Stayman bid) seeks 4 card majors.   2D, 2H, 2S show a weak hand with 5+ card suit.   3C, 3D, 3H, 3S are forcing to game, showing a 5+ card suit.   Game bids of 4H, 4S, 5C, 5D or slam bids (6 level) indicate you want to play this level.

Raise in No Trumps after 1NT

Must have a balanced hand.   Bid 2NT with 8-9 HCP (vulnerable) or 11-12 (not vulnerable) - invites a game if opener has maximum points.   Bid 3NT with 10-14 HCP (vulnerable) or 13-18 (not vulnerable), 4NT with 15-17 HCP (vulnerable) or 19-21 (not vulnerable), 6NT with 16-18 HCP (vulnerable) or 21-22 (not vulnerable).

Response to 1C,1D,1H,1S

Pass with 0-5 TP.   With 6-10 bid single raise, bid a new suit, or bid 1 No Trump.

Raise in a Suit to a 1 Bid

Shows 4 cards in nominated suit.   Single raise with 6-9 TP.   Double raise with 13-15 TP and is forcing to game.   Triple raise with 8-12 HCP and a good distribution.

Bid New Suit After a 1 Bid

A 1 bid in a new suit shows 6-18 TP, a 2 bid shows 10+ TP.   2H over 1S shows a 5 card suit, all other bids may be only 4 cards.   All bids in a new suit are forcing unless you passed previously.

Jump bid in a New Suit After a 1 Bid

16+ TP, and is forcing to game.

No Trump Bids After a 1 Bid

Bid 1NT with 6-10 HCP when no other bid is available - note this may be an unbalanced hand.   Bid 2NT with 13-15 HCP and a balanced hand, 3NT with 16-18 HCP and a balanced hand.

Response to 2 No Trumps

3C is looking for a major suit.   3D, 3H, 3S are forcing to game with 5+ cards in the suit.  Game and Slam bids are suggesting that this is the correct level to play at.   4NT is inviting a slam.

Response to 2 Bid if You are Strong

2D is a weak bid with 0-7 HCP after artificial 2C.   Other bids show 9+ points.   You must have 5+ card suit to bid a new suit.   2NT shows 8+ HCP and balanced.

Response to 2 Bid if You are Weak

Any new suit is forcing.   After a strong 2D, 2H, 2S, 2NT shows weakness.

Response to 3 Bids

Responder determines best contract considering 2 hands' fit and strength.   3NT suggests playing at this level.   Bidding a new suit is forcing, with a strong 5+ card suit.   Raises to game may be strong (showing 4-5 tricks) or pre-emptive.

Overcalls

at 1 Level

1D, 1H, 1S overcalls show 8-16 TP, and a reasonable 5+ card suit.   1NT shows 16-18 HCP and a balanced hand.   Bidding in 4th position, you can bid with only 10-12 points.

at 2 level

Overcall 1 with 11+ TP and a good 5+ card suit.   Jump overcall with 16-20 TP and 5+ card suit

at 3 level

Jump overcall with 16-20 TP and 5+ card suit.   A double jump is often played as a 8-12 TP pre-emptive bid with a 7+ card suit.

Opener's Rebid

in No Trumps

1NT is 13-15 HCP (vulnerable) or 15-26 (not vulnerable), and a balanced hand.   2NT is 14-15 HCP (or 19-21 HCP (vulnerable) or 17-18 (not vulnerable) if a jump rebid, eg. 1H-1S-2NT).   3NT shows 18-20 HCP.

in Own Suit

A simple rebid shows 13-15 TP and a 5 card suit.   A jump rebid shows 16+ TP and a 6+ card suit.

Raises

Make a simple raise with 13-15 TP and a 4+ card support (occasionally 3 card suit).   Make a double raise with 16-18 TP and a 4+ card suit - this invites a game bid.   Make a raise to a game bid with 19-21 TP and a strong 4 card suit.

in a New Suit

Opener bids a new suit at the lowest level with 13+points and a 2nd suit of 4+ cards.   A jump bid in a new suit shows 17+ TP and is forcing to game.   A reverse (ie rebidding a lower suit) forcing partner to bid at the 3 level shows 17+ TP and a 5 card suit in the first bid suit.

Conventions

Stayman

The Stayman convention is responder bidding 2C over opener's 1NT asks for a 4 card major suit.   Opener replies 2D with no major suit, or 2H or 2S with 4+ cards in that suit.   With 2 4 card majors, bid 2H.

Blackwood

The  Blackwood convention is a bid of 4NT asking for Aces.   Bid 5C with 0 or 4, 5D with 1, 5H with 2, 5S with 3 Aces.   A 5NT after 4NT asks for kings signalled the same way.

Take Out Double

This shows a hand you want to compete on.   Double the previous bid if you have 13+ TP with support on the 3 unbid suits, or 16+ TP and a strong 1 or 2 suited hand, or 19+ TP in a strong balanced hand.